Make sure your meals are satisfying

[ValidRouge]

After having a discussion today with my Mom (who is doing Atkins with me--both for a second time around), I thought I'd share it with everyone here too.

She mentioned that she's having a hard time with feeling satisfied with her food at night. She said that she's been eating alot of leftovers and "quick" meals, but then she finds herself wanting to "pick" from the fridge all evening.

One of the things I've been making a conscious effort to do is make sure that I have hot, satisfying meals for dinner. I look on the message boards, through cookbooks and do web searches for low carb recipes. Each night we (my dh and I) have some type of hot meal consisting of meat and vegetables. I've found some pretty interesting recipes that satisfy my body and my mind.

If I feel like I've had a really good dinner, I find that I don't have the desire to go looking for something else. And I'm not getting bored with my food choices either. Every week we have something new to eat, and the repeats are because we really liked a recipe and want to have it again.

One other thing I've done is that when I start wanting to go find something to snack on--I drink water. Maybe, just maybe, I can train my mind that when it sends me those signals to eat, it's going to get water...thus reducing those signals to begin with. Changing those bad habits, you know.

[Moochiecat]

If your mom is snooping around for a snack tell her to choose a fat/protein combo. It will satisfy her quicker and sustain her longer than just a protein alone. (Dip that chicken breast in ranch dressing rather than eat it dry..that sort of thing)

Is your mother eating enough at meal time? Is the 'picking' an old habit that she needs to break away from?
While growing up, my parent's frowned upon eating in the evenings, so I would shovel down a lot of dinner to get me through. When I started Atkins I had to keep reminding myself that I am allowed to eat when I am hungry! and it took me a while before I got back in tune with my stomach and realized that one plate and then maybe a small snack later was fine. It took a lot of getting used to!

[hey_nelson]

I'm in the same boat at night when I get home from work. Usually M - Sat I get home about 10pm after leaving for work at 1pm. Somedays I'm in at the school at 7:3o am - 1pm then go into my other work from 1 - 9 and I'm home by 10.

My main meals are: (Regular days Breakfast 8am Lunch 2pm Dinner 5:00pm)
(Irregular days: Breakfast 6:30 am Lunch 11:45am Dinner 5:00pm) In both cases i'm famished when I get home. I can not snack in the classroom so it's a bit challenging and then again at night from 6:30 - 9pm I can't eat in the classroom or youth center. EEEkkk I get hungry. This is now where I carry this huge 1.5 liter bottle of water around.

What I've been doing is, when I get home I eat a couple chunks of cut up beef summer sausage, or a couple string cheese and I dip em in mayo or ranch dressing. But sometimes I'm still hungry and its so late. I need to be in bed by midnight when I have my early mornings sooo it gets challenging. I just need to find what will work for me in my job settings.

love and prayers
patty